WA Labor have confirmed their intentions to have Western Power take on at least 50 new apprentices each year if they win this month’s state election.
Opposition leader Mark McGowan visited Bunbury on Monday alongside shadow training and workforce development minister Fran Logan to discuss his latest election pledge.
Mr McGowan said the boost to apprenticeships was an important component of his party’s plan to stop the Liberal Party’s planned privatisation of Western Power.
“As Premier, I will stop the privatisation of Western Power and I will guarantee it creates more jobs and opportunities for Western Australians,” he said.
Our plan will ensure that each year, at least 50 young West Australians will be able to undertake their apprenticeships at a publically-owned Western Power.”
Mr McGowan said there was a strong sense that not enough opportunities for quality training were available in regional WA and this is something he would like to fix.
“The Liberal-National government has taken an axe to apprenticeships at Western Power and apprentice numbers have fallen by the wayside, adding to WA’s job crisis,” he said.
“Keeping Western Power in public hands makes sense on so many levels – its means service standard will remain high, we’ll continue to receive the revenue it generates for the state and it will create jobs for young West Australians.”
Mr McGowan also reaffirmed his commitment to create more jobs for West Australians in the tourism sector if Labor form government.
He said WA Labor would invest $425 million into destination marketing and event tourism to attract more visitors to the state.
“A McGowan Labor Government will be focused on ensuring tourism is prioritised in everything we do,” he said.
“Our plan for tourism is a real game changer for WA. Tourism is a key component of our plan to diversify our state’s economy and create new jobs for Western Australians.
“We want to make WA one of the world’s great tourism destinations to provide a boost to our State’s economy and create jobs in a range of industries.”
Mr McGowan said his tourism plans would be enhanced by WA Labor’s ‘Brand WA’ plan to create a global brand for Western Australia in a bid to promote local goods and services to the world.
His party also plan to invest $2 million over five years to increase the number of international students to WA.
“Our Brand WA plan will provide the consistent messaging and planning we need when it comes to attracting more overseas visitors to WA,” he said.
